Adjustable mask



May 4, 1954 c. E. HOFFMAN, JR

ADJUSTABLE MASK Filed Sept. 6, 1952 INVENTOR. Cedric E. Hoffman, Jr:

Patented May 4, 1954 ADJUSTABLE MASK Cedric E. Hofiman, Jr., Mission,Kans., assignor to Spangler, Inc., Kansas City, Mo., a. corporation ofMissouri Application September 6, 1952, Serial No. 308,195

1 Claim.

This invention relates to masks, and more particularly to a mask whichis adjustable to fit heads of various sizes. With the usual mask theyare made in small or large size for children and grown-ups,respectively, and one will not fit comfortably upon the head or face ofthe other.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a maskmade from a thin sheet of material, such as cardboard or the like,flexible to fit around over the face, forehead and around the side ofthe head of the user, the side portions having a plurality of verticalslots through which the ears of the user engage to hold the mask on theface.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide eye openings onthe face portion of the mask and a cutway portion providing an openingthrough which the nose will extend and the cutaway portion hinged by atab with the upper portion of the cutaway part so that it will engageover the nose of the user to facilitate retaining of the mask on theface and allow the wearer to breathe comfortably; to provide spacedvertical slots in the side portions of the device, one of which may beselected for engaging over the ears of the user so that it will fit thehead and face of either a child or grown-up and to provide a device ofthis character simple and efficient in operation.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the present invention, Ihave provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of whichis illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my invention shown positioned on thehead of the user.

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the mask in fiat condition.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

l designates a mask embodying the features of my invention shownengaging the head 2 of a person. The mask is made from a single sheet ofthin cardboard material or the like, although other material may beutilized without departing from the spirit of my invention, and depictedthereon is a character, such as an Indian having horns, as indicated at3. The form disclosed and illustrated merely exemplifies the presentinvention and is illustrative rather than restrictive as any kind ofsubject may be utilized for the mask without departing from theinvention.

The mask comprises a middle portion 4 providing a forehead 5 and face 6,the face having openings 1 and 8 for the eyes of the user. The faceportion also has a, substantially rectangular cutout portion 9 throughwhich the nose In of the user extends. The cutout portion forms a tab lldepending from the apex of the triangular shaped portion as indicated at[2 and engages the top of the nose of the user and facilitates retentionof the mask on the face and allows the wearer to breathe comfortably.

The mask includes side portions [3 and I4 and being flexible will extendaround the side of the face of the user and alongside the head thereofas best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The sideportions are provided witha plurality of spaced vertically extending and slightly curved slots I5and 15 through which the ears I? of the user extend. When the mask isplaced over the face and the side portions bent around the side of thehead, the ear engages through the slot which will corn fortably hold themask on the face of the user. The mask. thereby being adjustable willfit either children or grown-ups or persons with various sized heads.

In use of a mask constructed as described the face portion is placedover the face of the user and the nose extended through the nose opening9 and the flap or tab it engages the nose to obscure the nose and yetallow free breathing, the eye openings permitting clear vision throughthe mask yet not disclosing the features of the user. One of the slotsl5 and I6 is selected for the ears of the wearer and the ear extendstherethrough so that the mask is comfortably engaged on the face andretained thereon in adjusted position.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that I have provided an improvedmask adjustable to fit the head of either children or grown-up persons.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A mask of the character described comprising, a face portion havingopenings for the eyes and nose of the user, and side portions integralwith and extending rearwardly from the face portion, said side portionshaving a plurality of spaced slots for engaging the ears of the user andarranged in series for adjustability of the mask, said slots being ofequal length and approximately the length of the human ear, said slotsalso being in substantial alignment with the eye openings whereby saidmask will be held in place in any position of adjustment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 211,675 Weidmann Jan. 28, 1879 1,703,034 Grimes Feb. 19, 1929FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 156,400 Austria Feb. 2, 1939

